Handbags



INVENTOR. Mae/s WAI/rf M. WHITE Jan. 26, 1960 HANDBAGS Filed 001'.. 13, 1958 United tates Patent O HANDBAGS Morris White, New York, N.Y., assignor to Morris White gaslions, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Application October 13, 1958, SerialNo. 766,866

2 Claims. (Cl. 150-29) The present invention is concerned with ladies handbags.

As conducive to a clear understanding of the purpose of the invention, it is noted that popular priced ladies handbags, more especially such as are of ornamental woven or knitted fabric, are subject to becoming smudged or soiled in wear and do not readily lend themselves to cleansing and have therefore not heretofore been a popular article of commerce.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a ladys handbag of any desired fabric, more specifically, a fabric of elaborate ornamental design, and of the type that is not readily washable, which nevertheless is substantially proof against smudging or soiling and which fabric is moreover protected against inadvertent wetting, as for instance in rainy weather and preserves its fresh, new and clean appearance for the life of the handbag.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the handbag of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the body structure complete save for the application of the handbag frame.

Referring now to the drawings there is illustratively shown one typical construction of ladys handbag, illustratively with an ornamental woven multi-color design, said body comprising illustratively a pair of panels 10 and 11 connected by a bottom 12, the panels in one desirable embodiment being folded inwardly at their lateral edges, and stitched together at their said edges as shown at 13, illustratively to form a gusset 14. The stitching extends laterally outward at 15 at the upper part of the gusset to the hinge 16 of the bag frame F. The bag is illust1r7atively shown with a stiiener ply 30 and a fabric lining According to the invention, the bag is formed with a permanent outer ply of transparent water resistant, preferably waterproof, exible plastic desirably of polyvinyl resin in the form of a blank separately prefabricated substantially to conform in size and shape to the body of the bag. Illustratively the blank 20 of transparent plastic is stitched or heat bonded as at 21 adjacent to the infolded lower part of the gusset 14 and similarly stitched or heat bonded at the adjoining lateral edges thereof to form a seam 22 along the length of the middle of each gusset and outward at 23 to the hinge of the bag frame.

The superposed free edges of the handbag body, previously inserted into the outer transparent ply 20 and the respective panels of the body are tacked together by staples 24, preferably used to pre-fasten said edges in order to facilitate in insertion into and assembly to the conventional rigid handbag frame F, which may be in the form of two channel bars 26. The channel frames thus encompass the edges of the body with its outer ply and are clenched n usual manner about the free fabric edges, including, according to the invention, the edges of Patented Jan. 26, 1960 the outer transparent ply, thereby to complete the handbag structure.

Thus the handbag is a structure devoid of a removable outer bag or protective cover, but the outer ply 20 on the contrary constitutes a unitary part of the handbag structure.

The outer transparent ply of the handbag structure, according to the present invention, completely protects the fabric of the handbag body from smudging, soiling or wetting. Since the outer transparent ply may readily be washed, preferably with a wet rag or sponge, it protects the fabric covered thereby from smudging, soiling or wetting, so that the handbag preserves its fresh, clean and ornamental appearance indefinitely.

The preferred plastic used for purposes of the outer transparent ply is vinyl plastic, although other plastics such as polyethylene may be used if desired.'

While the invention may be applicable to ladies handbags of any construction, whether the fabric be woven or knitted, textile or leather or plastic or imitation leather, the invention finds its preferred application to popular priced bags of decorative fabric such as imitation needlepoint or tapestry design.

The handbag of the present invention has a decidedly attractive appearance which is enhanced by the outer transparent ply which may be of any desired shade or finish.

The prefabricated transparent cover is to be contrasted with a sprayed on plastic, which imparts to the bag a decidedly shoddy appearance.

As many changes could be made in the above article and many apparently widely diierent embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A ladys handbag having a multi-ply body of suitable fabric, comprising a ply of fabric, a stitfener ply, a liner ply and a Prefabricated flexible, water resistant, transparent outer ply constituting the entire outer surface of the body, and a handbag frame comprising a pair-,of jaws extending along the entire length of and encompassing the free edges of all four plies of the body, including its transparent outer ply, and clamping said encompassed edges of said multi-ply body firmly and permanently in place between said jaws.

2. A ladys handbag having a body of suitable fabric with two face panels, the lateral edges of said panels being connected together, said body comprising also a stiffener ply, a liner ply and a prefabricated outer ply of water-resistant, transparent flexible plastic, `constituting the entire outer surface of said body, said outer transparent ply consisting of a single blank connected together at its lateral edges, and a handbag frame comprising a relatively rigid channel structure encompassing the entire length of the free superposed edges of all four plies of the body including its outer transparent ply and clamping said encompassed edges of said multi-ply body firmly and permanently in place between said jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,650 Hiering June 30, 1936 2,695,647 Deutsch Nov. 30, -1954 2,788,827 Banner Apr. 16, 1957 2,857,949 Zi Oct. 28, 1958 l,2,894,553 Carey July 14, 1959 

